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INTEREST GROUPS

INTEREST GROUPS. The Good, The Bad, the Purpose. What IS an Interest Group?. A private organization that tries to persuade government to pursue favored policies. Protected by the 1 st Amendment “Lobbies” IGs lobby at the national and the state levels

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INTEREST GROUPS

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  1. INTEREST GROUPS The Good, The Bad, the Purpose

  2. What IS an Interest Group? • A private organization that tries to persuade government to pursue favored policies. • Protected by the 1st Amendment • “Lobbies” • IGs lobby at the national and the state levels • Opposing IGs compete for attention Pro-Choice vs. Pro-Life

  3. Examples of Interest Groups NRA - National Rifle Association NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union NARAL – National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League NRLC - National Right to Life Committee

  4. GOOD Things about Interest Groups • Raise awareness of public issues • Represent the views of their members • Provide useful information to politicians • Provide a means for citizens to participate in the political process • Checks and Balances • Power of political officials • Influence of other interest groups

  5. BAD Things about Interest Groups • Some become too powerful • Some are “fronts” for radical political philosophies • Some do not represent the interests of their members • Many use money as political “bribes” • Campaign contributions

  6. 3 Ways to Influence Public Opinion • Trailer for movie “Thank You for Smoking” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBELC_vxqhI 1. Supply the public with information 2. Build apositive image for the group • Groups Accomplishments • Positive press coverage • Politicians vote in desired manner 3. Promote a particular public policy

  7. Use of Propaganda • Try to shape public opinion about a particular topic • Doesnot use objective logic • Begins with a conclusion • Only provide supporting evidence • Simple, yet interesting delivery of information • Lobbyistsmaster this “craft” • Trailer for movie “Thank You for Smoking” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBELC_vxqhI

  8. Lobbying What…. How (TACTICS)…. • Pressuring politicians to vote a certain way on issues • Used to be done in the “lobby” of the Capital Building • Lobbyist – a person hired by an interest group to convince members of Congress to support or oppose a particular issue • Testify before Congress • One-on-one meetings • Politicalcontributions • To re-election campaigns • “Rate” members of Congress • Publish ratings

  9. Political Parties vs. Interest groups • Political Parties • GOAL– to win elections and control government • Focus mostly on getting their candidate elected • Made up of people who unite for some political purpose • Nominate candidates for public office • Concerned with everything that concerns voters • Accountable to voters • TACTICS: Advertising, Conventions Debates, Rallies/Speeches

  10. Interest Groups • Interest groups • GOAL– to influence government policy • Focus on their issue • Don’t care which party, only that their cause is advanced • Made up of people who unite for some political purpose • Do not nominate candidates for public office • Concerned only about issues that affect their members • Interest groups are private organizations accountable to their members • TACTICS: Advertise, Lobbying (see tactics under lobbying)

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